Declassified files from the British government revealed that Department of Defense officials were investigating a diamond-shaped object seen in the sky over a Scottish village
The officials were so concerned about the presence of the object, which was filmed by video camera, that they violated the established procedure and passed the information directly to members of the ruling cabinet.
They also broke rules prohibiting investigations into UFOs that pose no immediate threat to national security, and have spent over a year trying to solve this inexplicable mystery.
Disclosures about the incident are contained in over 1,000 pages of white papers, detailing the hundreds of UFOs that have been observed between 1987 and 1993. All of this information was transmitted on Sunday, March 22, to the National Archives in Kew.
It is significant that the documents became public knowledge at a time when a new surge in the activity of unidentified flying objects is observed over Britain.
Data obtained by the Sunday Telegraph shows that in the first two months of 2009, UFOs appeared over the UK more often than in any other year for which official records are available, and three times more often than the monthly average.
Most of the records of "sighting" of UFOs contained in the national archives eventually found a completely earthly explanation. But the Scottish case remains a mystery to this day.
From the files of the Ministry of Defense it became known that the first time this strange aircraft became known when the Daily Record newspaper presented six color photographs of the object. The UFO was seen by two men, one of whom filmed it on camera. The object passed in the daytime near the A9 in Calvin, north of Pitlochry, on 4 August 1990.
Eyewitnesses said they observed the object for about 10 minutes - during which time military aircraft made a series of flights of the strange apparatus. The UFO then swung sharply to the side and upward before disappearing from view at high speed.
The files indicate that officials learned from the photographer that the warplanes appeared to be Harriers. But the intrigue is that at the time, none of the RAF units were operating in the area.
The Department of Defense prepared a memorandum to that effect to the then Minister of the Armed Forces, Sir Archie Hamilton. Its text, dated September 14, 1990, in particular states: “The head of the Armed Forces may wish to know that the Scottish newspaper Daily Record may publish a report about the alleged UFO sighting near Pitlochry in early August. Such stories usually do not come to the attention of ministers, the press office of the Department of Defense invariably answers questions about UFOs in accordance with the established standard, emphasizing our limited interest in the UFO phenomenon and explains that we do not have the resources to conduct any in-depth investigations in this part.
“They (the photographers) saw a large, static, diamond-shaped object around which a small jet was flying. Experts have established that the plane resembles a jet "Harrier" (visible in the photo and another plane, also similar to the "Harrier"), as for a large object, no conclusions can be made on it.
The British Department of Defense has even prepared a defensive strategy for using the media in the event that journalists begin to attack its press office with questions about the mysterious ship. Curious reporters were supposed to say, "No definite conclusions have yet been made regarding the large diamond object."
However, the Daily Record never published the photos.
Dr. David Clarke, university journalism professor and UFO expert, says: “This is the most intriguing of all UFO evidence. The Defense Department's report reveals how worried the defense department was about what to say about the observed object. They themselves did not know what it was. They couldn't even figure out where the Harriers came from. This is really a mystery, which is not yet possible to explain, but they took it very, very seriously."
The files show that a year after the photographs were taken, the Department of Defense instructed experts to prepare blueprints for a UFO that would give officials an idea of the object's size.
Even the creation of the drawings took place in strict secrecy. One undated document contains a “special handling” recommendation for “material sensitivity”. In addition, an order was issued for the ministry "on attracting a minimum number of employees to this case."
In 1992, rumors appeared in the press that the Americans were developing a new spy plane, codenamed "Aurora", and the British Defense Department wondered if the previously observed object could be part of this project.
In a note attached to one of the files. says: “Despite denials from the United States, the story around Aurora continues to be rumored. The details are contained in the accompanying article, which talks about some of the things that were discussed last month at the UFO conference. I don't think I still remember the photos of the diamond-shaped UFO taken near Pitlochry in 1990 - the object was stationary."
Military personnel, police officers and aircraft crews are among those who consistently reported UFO activity.
Even a statement from a Brighton man who claims to have seen aliens in front of his house in 1992 is described as "sounding quite authentic."
The files also show that officials prepared a systematic sample of over 100 unexplained observations for scrutiny in the hopes that they could provide a rational explanation for what was happening. But the ministry's leadership subsequently blocked any investigations for fear it would cause public panic.
Newly disclosed evidence of UFO sightings held in the archives of the British Defense Department is as follows:
21 February 1988: The crew of a helicopter reports a collision at night with a very bright blinking object. The UFO appeared to be 200 or 300 yards in length, had red and white lights, and appeared to veer to the side to allow the helicopter to pass.
November 5, 1990: The crews of six Tornado aircraft observed a giant UFO over Germany during joint military exercises with the Germans. The pilots believe it could also be a test flight of the US Air Force's biggest secret at the time, the Stealth fighter.
May 1, 1992: The crew of the Britannia 737 reported nearly colliding with an object moving at Mach 3 near the Elbe, off the Italian coast. There is a note in the memo: “Civil aviation believes that this may be characteristic of a radar-guided missile. They did not take any action, but you need to be prepared for explanations with the leadership of the Italian civil aviation."
June 17, 1992: The crew of the plane reports that four passengers on board the liner departing from Gatwick airport claim to have seen a UFO fly by on the same level as their plane.
In November 1992, a Brighton resident reported seeing brightly lit objects, possibly alien, above his home. Officials noted that the message "sounds quite authentic."
March 23, 1993: A light cigar object was observed in the Ilford and Romford area of East London. But this secret was soon revealed. The dossier says: “The object is almost certainly a brightly lit airship advertising the new Ford Mondeo. The Air Force has confirmed that the airship is "working in and around London."
March 31, 1993: More than 100 people in the west of the country and in Ireland saw two shiny objects with a bright trail, which proceeded quickly and silently from north to south. This episode is now known among ufologists as the Cosford incident.
